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Most Americans Say Employers Should Never Discriminate, Even on Religious Grounds

published November 2, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, WASHINGTON, DC and NEW YORK, NY– October 30, 2014 – Twenty years after its introduction, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is still being debated in Congress and across the United States. While most Americans continue to give the bill strong support, a new national survey shows that most Americans simply don’t believe that employer exemptions are justified when it comes to basic workplace safeguards for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. Slightly over half (55%) of all adults don’t believe that any employers should be exempt if federal law were expanded to include protection from job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

When asked specifically, some Americans do agree with certain exemptions. The latest survey shows only about a third (35%) of all adults believe churches or other houses of worship should be exempt, and three in ten (30%) believe privately held businesses with owners citing religious beliefs should be exempt. Also, just a fifth (21%) of adults believe publicly held businesses citing religious beliefs should be exempt, and 19% believe small businesses generally should be exempt.

“This year’s survey reinforces what we are seeing in companies, government agencies and businesses around the country – even around the world– that more and more business leaders are supporting workplace equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees,” said Selisse Berry, Founder, CEO, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. “While this is good news we still have work to do to protect employees who can still be fired in 29 U.S. states for being LGBT and in 32 if one is transgender. Out & Equal will continue to work with our partners to build workplace equality for all members of our LGBT community.”

The 2014 Out & Equal Workplace Survey was conducted online between September 10 and 17, 2014, by TheHarris Poll® in conjunction with Out & Equal Workplace Advocates and Witeck Communications, among 2,543 U.S. adults, of whom 2,068 indicated they are heterosexual and 354 self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (which includes an over-sample of gay and lesbian adults).Begun in 2002, this survey has become a trusted annual barometer of attitudes surrounding LGBT issues in the workplace and is the longest-running national survey of its kind. (Full results, including data tables, available here)

Strong Support for Transgender Employees
The survey also showed continued support for federal policies that end job discrimination for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals, as well as transgender employees. Two-thirds (65%) of American adults agree that federal law should be expanded to include protection from job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Also, when it comes to protections for transgender employees, more than half (54%) of all adults strongly agree that transgender workers should be treated equally and fairly as all other workers.

Marriage Equality and the LGBT Workforce
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned significant portions of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) last June, many states also have repealed their bans against same-sex marriage. With this sea change, growing numbers of LGBT employees wish to live and work in states that recognize their legal relationships today. The 2014 Out & Equal Workplace Survey reports that:

Three out of five (60%) LGBT adults prefer a job with an employer in a state where same sex marriages are recognized over an employer in a state that does not recognize same sex marriages, other factors being equal, compared to 51% in 2012.

Nearly a third (30%) of LGBT adults would consider changing jobs if their employer required them to transfer to a state where same sex marriages were not recognized, compared to 20% in 2012.

Thirty percent (30%) would also consider declining a job promotion if it required them to transfer to a state where same sex marriages are not recognized, compared to 22% in 2012.

“This finding tells us that America’s economy itself is bending towards marriage equality,” said Bob Witeck, President of Witeck Communications. “Is there any wonder that same-sex couples and families bristle or object when job security conflicts with their family’s security?”

2014 Out & Equal Workplace Summit
The Out & Equal Workplace Summit will open on Monday, November 3, and close on Thursday, November 6, 2014 in San Francisco, California. Nearly 2,500 attendees are expected from more than 30 countries. LGBT employees and straight allies, along with human resources and diversity professionals, representing a broad cross-section of the nation’s leading companies—a majority from the Fortune 500—are now set to participate in this year’s Summit, focused on achieving workplace equality.

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